CS-L is all about community. Learning with communities, strengthening relationships with communities, and building just and sustainable communities. We strive to cultivate positive social change through mutually beneficial partnerships, critical reflection, and the development of engaged citizens.

Through over 100 Service-Learning courses, Federal Work Study experiences, and Alternative Breaks, CS-L engages students locally and globally by partnering with dozens of diverse community organizations. CS-L connects students to meaningful community engagement that brings the rich intellectual traditions of JMU to life. With CS-L, students do not simply discuss topics, they explore them first-hand through thoughtful engagement with the community.

Contact CS-L to get connected to these opportunities:

• Community Engaged Federal Work Study: Work 8-10 hours per week serving at a local non-profit or area school. Madison.
• Curricular Service-Learning: There are dozens of JMU courses where students serve a local community partner and integrate their service with what they are learning in class.
• Alternative Breaks: Annually hundreds of JMU students participate in these life-changing, student-led, rapid-immersion community engagement breaks in the United States or abroad.
• Individual community engagement: Make a semester or year-long commitment to a community partner.
• Student organizations: Groups across campus make long-term commitments to community organizations and social issues. CS-L staff can provide more details.

It depends on your interest and passion. While there is not a minimum requirement, some types of engagement require greater time commitments than others. There are opportunities for everyone to connect with the community.

No. Although some programs and organizations have more structured timelines, opportunities of varying levels of time commitment are available throughout the year.

Usually. Most ongoing opportunities can be flexible as long as students communicate openly with their on-site supervisors and volunteer coordinators.

Our office is suite 2100 on the second floor of the Student Success Center (down the hall to the right of the elevators near the Bistro).

Email us at csl@jmu.edu with any specific questions.

Students that are eligible for Federal Work Study (FWS) positions can apply to the Community Engaged Federal Work Study program with CS-L. This program connects students looking for paid FWS positions with local schools and nonprofit organizations to work in the community between 6 to 20 hours each week. These positions may be for a semester or the entire academic year.

“I found my ‘calling’ while serving as an America Reads tutor at a local elementary school. It strongly shaped my future plans and perception of what I am as an individual and member of the Harrisonburg Community. I am so grateful for this opportunity and it is a defining piece of my time at JMU and my life.” 

Check out potential community  partners here.

Email us at fws@jmu.edu with any specific questions.

If this is of interest to you, please contact the Student Employment office at studentjobs@jmu.edu to speak with a representative who can review and evaluate your award package for the possibility of adding FWS depending upon your eligibility.

A student can have several on campus jobs, but between all of these positions, the student cannot work more than 20 hours per week. This policy is in place to reinforce “academics first” for student employees. Although still possible, students typically will not have two FWS positions because each student has a limited amount of funds they’ve been awarded, which usually won’t support multiple FWS positions.

Student eligible for FWS positions are usually awarded $2070 (this may be less depending on reported household income). This dollar amount is the maximum a student can earn as part of their FWS position during the year. Community Engagement FWS positions typically pay $9/hr, which means students can work up to 230 hours over the duration of the academic year.

No. The only type of financial aid that has to be repaid is loans.

The best time to apply is when the position is posted and active on JobLink, which is usually from the end of June through mid-August and early December through mid-January. However, if you’re interested in working in the Community Engaged FWS program and there is not a position posted, contact FWS@jmu.edu to inquire about upcoming opportunities.

An opportunity to immerse yourself for a week or even a few days addressing real world problems while making lifelong connections with other JMU students and communities throughout the world. Nothing compares to this student-led experience. You may also hear students call this Alternative Spring Break (ASB) as that is our largest and longest running part of the program.

Whether you go for a weekend or a week, you will join your peers to thoughtfully serve another community, address a pressing social issue, and learn more than you imagined. For dates, sign-up details, information sessions, scholarship info, and expectations, visit here for more information.

“This experience opened my eyes to so much and made me realize that I should be doing something that I love and not something that someone else thinks I should do.” Bronwyn Neal, Alternative Spring Break

Check out potential community partners here.

Email us at abp@jmu.edu with any specific questions.

Learn more about Alternative Break options, when they occur and how to sign up!